Greeting from the luweero internet cafe

It's Sunday a.m. and I'm sitting in the Internet cafe hoping to do a relly big update - hope the generator doesn't go out because the electricity just did - does that quite often. The cafe is about 8 computers on tables in a shed but it's working and you can usually find another PCT (trainee) here.

The scene: The country is at the end (hopefully) of the dry season so it's hot and dusty....but still green. Bananna trees everywhere. We are training at a church center in Luweero, north of Kampala - it's a fairly large town. The mail highway runs through it and that's paved - it's quite a site. Full of bicycles and taxi vans and motor bikes (boda bodas) - every now and then a bus or truck comes by about 50 mph - there's no speed limit - quite the adventure. Off that, it's all gravel roads going to markets or homes. Along the highway there are tons of little shops selling all sorts of things and produce stands. We found an Indian run "super market" (one room) but they mark prices and have peanut butter, jelly and bread. We are so American.

We train at a church center that's really nice. We have big sessions in an open air pavillion and small groups on the grass....in the shade. Training runs from 8-5:30 and on Sat. till 1 and it's really intense - lots of homework. We do two hours of language (ugh), cross cultural talks, safety, health and we're starting technical training. Since I'm a health volunteer that means health topics and visiting local health centers - they try to offer free care in the government centers but it's really basic and they are often out of medicines. The private centers are nicer, but expensive, by Ugandan standards. They others are in teaching or economic development.

Schools; Uganda has Universal primary Education - but the funding and intrastructure hasn't gotten there. Elementary classes are 40-80 students /room, no special ed and few resources. They go from 8-5! Teachers get about $60/mo. which is low for professionals here. Most people w. any money send their children to private schools, or boarding school...the older girls in my family go from 7:30 to 5:30 and go Sat. a.m., too. "Caning" is allowed and can be quite harsh....my host parents think it's fine - that children need discipline - even tho' their girls have been caned. Ugandans very much value discipline and order.

My home: The Reverand works for the Church of Uganda (anglican), and has a church house on the grounds. They have been at this church (actually, it's the Cathedral, but don't think American cathedral), for two years and lucked out in getting a nicer house (I lucked out too)...
He works on Health Empowerment helping villages organize ways to improve health, mainly by getting better water - covering wells, digging new wells, but he has no funding to help them. Margaret, the mom, works incredibly hard....every evening she cooks a big meal outside on three charcoal stoves - we usually have matoke (steamed banannas), rice, sweet potatoes, cooked greens, beans, peanut sauce and often fresh fruit.....how she does it all is amazing. All the meals are the same things (even at the training center) and they eat a lot. She doesn't have a stove or refrigerator.
All clothing is hand washed - the girls taught me yesterday. When I tried to explain American washers and dryers she was shocked...."I have never seen such a thing"..and when I added the dishwasher she was really in a spin...."it would use so much power". She feels she has it easy because she can afford charcoal and doesn't have to use firewood...and she has water. She works part time in the chuch office but their budget is tight. She's a gem.

The kids are full of energy....they go to bed at 10 (we eat at 8:30)...and get up at 6 to catch a boda boda to school (no transportation for any schools). They are full of energy and laugh at me a lot, but they are helping me w. my Lugandan. They are very well behaved and do lots of chores...they got up early today to clean the house (e.g., scrubbing the concrete floors) before going to church and sunday school.

The house is stucco and has 3 bedrooms...I'm in the chuch guest bedroom and it's very spacious. There is a small kitchen and a living/dining room. The kids take bucket baths in the shower stall. I'm so glad to put that off - I really appreciate the shower even if it is cold. They work hard to keep things clean, but it's a losing battle sometimes.

It's nice in the a.m. but HOT in the afternoon and the sun is intense....we got our bikes on Friday and look pretty silly w. our mandatory helmets. There are NO women driving anything so we really stick out. Wherever you go the little kids shout "hello wazunga"....the really little ones cry and run away! Margaret took me to the market last nite for vegetables for supper - really amazing. I stayed away from the meat stalls tho - glad we have mostly beans. No problem paying for pampers here - the babies don't wear pants!

Went to church this a.m. and teared up when they sang "Lord, We Lift Your Name on High"....English service and great singing. Lots of enthusiasm.....they are very religious.. It really is a great country and I'm amazed how easy it is to feel at home - people are people everywhere....and kids are kids. Take care - I'll try to keep this up but can't promise anything.